Jazz Combo & Big Band Performance

April 13, 2013 | 07:30 PM to 08:30 PM

The Houghton Jazz Combo and Jazz Workshop Big Band will have their first concert of the New Year on April 13, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. in Wesley Chapel. The concert is free of charge and open to the public.

The Houghton Jazz Combo and Jazz Workshop Big Band will have their first concert of the New Year on April 13, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. in Wesley Chapel. The concert is free of charge and open to the public.

The concert, under the direction of Adjunct Professor of Jazz Kendall Crane, will feature the two groups, who will be performing a mixture of jazz classics as well as student -composed works.

Crane has played with the likes of Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra and Maynard Ferguson. He will also be performing with his students during the concert.

The jazz combo will be performing in the first half, with the big band members joining them for the second half, including eight community members. The classics will include vocal features, such as Harold Arlin's Stormy Weather, Irving Berlin's Dancing Cheek to Cheek (featuring Ha-eun "Kate" Jeong) along with instrumental features, such as Charlie Parker's Confirmation and the late Dave Brubeck's most famous piece, composed by saxophonist Paul Desmond, Take Five.

Prof. Crane says, “We are especially pleased to present our own homegrown music, the compositions of Jerbrel Bowens and Malcolm Bell. This is a concert not to miss!”

Within the jazz group, students are encouraged to explore the art of improvisation through small combos and the big band through various features of individual talents.

Recent guest clinician included pianist, composer and vocalist, Dianna Witkowski, winner of the Great American Jazz Piano Competition in 2002.